Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

May 3, 2012

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said this week that public pension reform legislation is still on track for this year, although he wasn't sure about the timing.

"I've said all along it's our obligation to deliver comprehensive pension reform legislation this session," Steinberg said during a meeting with reporters in his office Thursday morning. "Whether it's before or after the budget, I don't know. It depends on conversations with the governor and the Assembly, as well."

Lawmakers have a constitutional deadline to deliver a balanced budget by June 15.

A conference committee focused on pension reform has been meeting since October. Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, who co-authored failed legislation that co-opted Gov. Jerry Brown's pension proposals, said last week that lawmakers generally agree on many points but that major sticking points include switching future workers to a hybrid plan and changing the retirement age for those future hires.

On October 14, The Sacramento Bee will temporarily remove commenting from sacbee.com. While we design the upgrade, we encourage you to tell us what you like and don't like about commenting on sacbee.com and other websites. We've heard from hundreds of you already and we're listening. Please continue to add your thoughts and questions here.
We also encourage you to write Letters to the Editor on this and other topics.

About The State Worker

The Author

Jon Ortiz launched The State Worker blog and a companion column in 2008 to cover state government from the perspective of California government employees. Every day he filters the news through a single question: "What does this mean for state workers?" Join Ortiz for updates and debate on state pay, benefits, pensions, contracts and jobs. Contact him at (916) 321-1043 and at jortiz@sacbee.com.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

Now on the State Worker column

State Pay Database

This database allows you to search the salaries of California's 300,000-plus state workers and view up to four years of their pay history.